Kaleidoscope



Aug. 24, 1948. R. E. ZEMELMAN ,6

KALEIDOSCOPE Filed Feb. 20, 1946 RoscoE E. ZEMELMAN 57 W WW PatentedAug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvementsin kaleidoscopes.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide akaleidoscope in which the case or shell and essential component partsare molded from plastic materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a kaleidoscopehaving a new and unique type of polished mirror which may be referred toas a first surface mirror, that is to say, a mirror in which thereflection occurs directly on the surface of the mirror and, therefore,does not produce any secondary reflections or double images.

It -is '41. further object of the present invention to provide akaleidoscope having a compound mirror of the type stated which isuniquely composed of two planar mirrors resiliently held together bynovel holding elements and thereby capable of producing .a sharp "lineof intersection without :the production :of a non-reflective line ordead area .at the point of intersection of angular-1yldisposed mirrorsuriaces.

It is a further ohject .of the present invention to provide akaleidoscope of the type statedwhich is provided with an accessibleobject chamber in which numerous different kinds of small objects may be"optionally placed for viewing purposes and maybe :readily removed orchanged bysmall children, thereby enabling them to produce .an endlessvariety of designs and patterns.

Itis anadditional object of the present invention to provide akaleidoscope of the type statedwwhich is composed ofa few readilyassemblable and interchangeable component parts, thereby facilitatingand :rendering "more economical the manufacture and assembly of the toy.

And with :the above and .other objects in view, my imzent-ion resides inthe :novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination:of parts presently described .and pointed out inzthe claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 115 a perspective view of a preferred form of kaleidoscopeconstructed :in accordance withandembodying my present invention;

Figure? isan exploded view o'f the kaleidoscope illustrating in moredetail the several component parts and manner of assembly thereof;

Fig-ure'3'is a longitudinal sectional View of the kaleidoscope takenalong the line 3--3 of Fig ure '1';

Figure is a top plan view io'f the kaleidoscope partly broken away andin section; and

.aFl-igures 5and 6 .areitransversesectional views .2 taken along thelines 5 -5 and .6-.6, respectively, of Figure 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing,which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Adesignates a kaleidoscope comprising a onepiece molded plastic case orshell .I of more .or less tubular form and being slightly taperedthroughout its length, so that it is somewhat larger in diametral sizeat its so-called objectitre end :2 and of somewhat smaller diametltalsize at its .socalled eye-piece end 3. Preferably, though notnecessarily, the outer surface of the case I is provided with aplurality of Iongitudinally extending uniformly spaced ribs 4, whichfacilitate manipulation. At its eye-piece end '3, the case 1| :isintegrally provided with a transversely extending inwardly dished bottomwall 5, which is, in turn, provided with a small concentricsight-aperture 6 At its other or Dbi-ective end 2, the case I isinternally counterbored for a short distance to provide an annularshoulder {L rSi-milarly, upon its outer face, the case I is providedwith a p jecting an ula shoulder 8 and around the annular space between;the shoulder B and the objective end 1, the case J is provided with aseries of camming bosses 9, all as best seen in Figures 2 and flrand forpurposes more fully appearing.

:Provided for removable disposition within the case i, is a circulardisk ill of clear glass having an outer diametral size approximatelyequal to the inner diametral size of the case I in the region of thesight-aperture 6. The disk .l-B will, therefore, :flt within the case Iand rest against the inner face of the dished bottom wall :5, as shownin Figure '3.

Also provided for disposition withinthe case ,1, is a V shaped'-mi-rrorgenerally designated :13 and comprising two accurately planarmirro e16!- ments H formed preferably from aluminum sheets and :highlypolished upon one surface in the'provision of ;a true first-surfacemirror, that is to :say, a mirror on which all reflection takes placedirectly upon :the top or exposed surface thereof, thereby preventing a,secondary reflection of the type commonly encountered in conventionalglass mirrors. The mirror elements-III are slightly tapered alongtheinlongitudinal margins acomplementarily with the internal taper ofthe :case I :so asto-fitsnugly therein and are of a length equal to thedistance between the inner suriaceof-the'disk IE] and the face of theshoulder I. The .mirror elements H, furthermore, are placed together insomewhat V-shape formation and resiliently held together in thisposition by a pair of spaced spring clips l2, each integrally includinga small centrally disposed arcuate bight portion l3 and two bent arms l4each provided at its outer end with bent-over or hook-like retentionprongs I5. The mirror B, thus assembled, can be momentarily bent, sothat the two elements are swung toward each other and the overall sizeof the assembly thereby reduced in crosssectional area to facilitateinsertion into the case i and, upon release after insertion, will springoutwardly into accurate conformity with th interior of the case i. Thetransverse ends of the mirror elements II are cut off on the square, soto speak, so that, when the mirror B is disposed in operative positionwithin the case I, the transverse margins of the lower or smaller endthereof will lie flush against the inner face of the disk It and thetransverse margins of the other or larger end will lie precisely withinthe plane of the face of the shoulder i, all as best seen in Figure 3.

Provided for removable disposition within the objective end 2, is aclear gl ss d s 55 adapted to rest snugly upon the face of the shoulderl' and against the adjacent transverse margins of the mirror elementsll. Similarly provided for disposition within the objective end 2 of thecase i, is an annular ring [1 formed preferably of plastic or othersimilar material and having an external diametral size substantiallyequal to the inner diametral size of the counterbored portion of theobjective end 2 so as to fit snugly, but removably, therein. It shouldbe noted in this connection that the ring I! has an inner diametral sizeequal to, or slightly greater than, the inner diametral size of the caseI in the region of the shoulder 1 so as not to materially decrease thesize of the circular area which may be viewed when the kaleidoscope isin use.

Also provided for disposition within the counterbore objective end 2 ofthe case I, is a frosted glass disk l8 adapted to fit against theoutwardly presented end of the ring I! and extendfor a short distanceupwardly beyond the objective end 2 of the case I in the provision of anenclosed space or objective chamber 3 in which various small objects,such as tiny bits of colored broken glass g or any other similar objectsmay be inserted. Provided for retentive or looking disposition upon andaround the objective end 2 of the case I, is a molded plastic closurering 19 having an inwardly projecting annular lip 20 adapted to engagethe disk l8. The ring I9 is, furthermore,'

provided upon its inner surf-ace with a series of camming projections 2|of size and shape complementary to the camming projections 9. It will beapparent that the closure ring 19 may be rotated until its cammingprojections 2| are properly aligned with the camming projections 9 onthe objective end 2 of the case I, whereupon the closure ring [9 may beshifted axially inwardly until the annular lip 28 thereof engagestightly against the disk l8 and the ring may thereupon'be rotatedthrough approximately twenty to thirty degrees until the cammingprojections S and 2| respectively engage or look against each other,holding the entire kaleidoscope in completely assembled relation.

In fully assembled form, the kaleidoscope may be held in approximatelyhorizontal position with the sight-aperture 6 up against the eye and theobjective end 2 presented toward any suitable disk I8 may be removed andthe bits of glass g may be removed from the objective chamber s,permitting substitution of any other small freefalling objects, such asrubber bands, paper clips, thumb tacks, or small chips of gravel, forthe creation of a limitless variety of kaleidoscopic patterns. It shouldbe noted in this connection that the mirror B is completely housed andenclosed between the disks l0 and I8, so that dirt and moisture will bekept away from the highly polished mirror surfaces and they will,therefore, remain clean and brilliant for a long period of time.Furthermore, if the mirror surfaces should become dirty, the entirekaleidoscope may be readily taken apart and the interior thoroughlycleaned, or, if the mirror B should become permanently tarnished, it maybe conveniently and quickly replaced.

The mirror B furthermore, as has been pointed out above, is unique inthat it provides for reflection only upon its top surface and,therefore, any multiple reflections are eliminated. This problem ofmultiple reflection is ordinarily not particularly serious in the caseof conventional glass mirrors used for viewing the face, for example,because the source of light and the image being viewed are more or lessdirectly in front of the mirror. In kaleidoscopes, however, the line ofsight i more or less parallel to the general direction of the reflectivesurface or plane, with the result that the incident rays or light strikthe mirror surface at relatively shallow or oblique angles.Consequently, the quality of reflection which occurs from a conventionalglass mirror results in fuzzy images and indistinct repetitive patterns.This has been a well recognized disadvantage of all existingkaleidoscopes and is completely eliminated and overcome by the presentinvention. The use of a so-called first-surface mirror of the typeherein disclosed furthermore makes possible the provision of a verysharp line of intersection between the mirror surfaces and, therefore,eliminates the dead or non-reflective area which, in conventionalkaleidoscopes appears to the viewers eye as a sort of rod-like axisextending down through the center of the image being viewed.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thekaleidoscope may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:.

1. A kaleidoscope comprising a tapered outer tube having a transversewall across its smaller end, said wall being provided with a concentriceye-piece-forming aperture, a pair of spaced disks at the larger endarranged to form a chamber for receiving objects to be viewed, thelarger end of said tube being provided on its outer surface with aseries of camming bosses, and a removable ring disposed upon the largerend for retaining the disks in place, said ring being interiorlyprovided with a series of camming projections of size and shapecomplementary to the first mentioned series of camming bosses forlocking engagement with the tube upon relative rotation of the ring andtube.

2. A kaleidoscope comprising a tapered outer tube having a transversewall across its smaller end, said wall being provided with a concentriceye-piece-forming aperture, a pair of disks at the larger end spaced bya removable spacing ring and arranged to form a chamber for receivingobjects to be viewed, the larger end of said tube being provided on itsouter surface with a series of camming bosses, and a removable ringdisposed upon the larger end for retaining the disks in place, said ringbeing interiorl provided with a series of camming projections of siZeand shape complementary to the first mentioned series of camming bossesfor locking engagement with the tube upon relative rotation of the ringand tube.

3. In a kaleidoscope, a pair of elongated mirrors held resilientltogether in V formation by V-shaped spring clips having arcuate centralportions and being provided at their outer ends with bent-over hookedportions, said clips further being bent outwardly along both legsintermediate the arcuate central portions and the hooked ends.

4. In a kaleidoscope, a pair of elongated mirrors held resilientlytogether in V formation by V-shaped spring clips having arcuate centralportions adapted to cradle the apex formed by the mirrors along theirline of abutment with each other, said clips being provided at theirouter ends with bent over hook portions for retentively hooking over theoutwardly presented edges of the mirrors, the intermediate leg portionsof said clips extending on the outer sides of said mirrors and beingbent outwardly therefrom for normally urging said mirrors outwardly awayfrom each other.

5. A kaleidoscope comprising, an elongated tubular outer case, and apair of elongated mirrors held resiliently in V formation b V-shapedspring clips having arcuate central portions adapted to cradle the apexformed by the mirrors along their line of abutment with each other, said3 clips being provided at their outer ends with bent over hook portionsfor retentively hooking over the outwardly presented edges of themirrors, the intermediate leg portions of said clips extend.- ing on theouter sides of said mirrors and being bent outwardly therefrom fornormally urgin said mirrors outwardly away from each other, intoedgewise abutment against the interior of said tube.

6. A kaleidoscope comprising a tubular outer case, and a pair ofelongated mirrors held resiliently together in V formation by V-shapedspring clips having arcuate central portions adapted to cradle the apexformed by the mirrors along their line of abutment with each other, saidclips being provided at their outer ends with bent-over hook portionsfor retentively hooking over the out wardly presented edges of themirrors, the intermediate leg portions of said clips extending on theouter sides of said mirrors and being bent outwardly therefrom wherebyonly portions of the longitudinal margins of said mirrors are contactedby said clips.

'7. A kaleidoscope comprising an elongated tubular outer shell, and amanually insertable and removable reflector assembly, said reflectorassembly comprising a pair of elongated rectangular mirrors and aplurality of spaced spring clip members, each clip having means forgripping the longitudinal margins of the mirrors, said mirrors beingthus held with their longitudinal axis substantially parallel and theirtransverse axis in angular position in relation to each other, with thereflective faces of the mirrors facing inwardly, said reflector assemblybeing of such size and proportions that when the mirrors are swunginwardly toward each other, reducing the angle between the transverseaxis thereof, the entire mirror assembl will assume a crosssectionalsize capable of fitting within a circumscribed circle of smallerdiameter than the inside diameter of the tube, whereby the reflectorassembly can be quickly and easily slipped within the tube and will,when released, expand for snugfitting engagement within the interior ofsaid tube.

ROSCOE E. ZEMELMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UIHTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 631,550 Wale Aug, 22, 1899754,143 Johnson Mar. 8, 1904 1,290,078 Cappa Jan, 7, 1919 1,294,967Stabla Feb. 18, 1919 1,398,858 House Nov. 29, 1921 1,485,795 MallerneeMar. 4, 1924 1,662,743 Hanson 1 Mar. 13, 1928 1,667,278 Wolfe Apr. 24,1928 2,112,642 Angetell Mar. 29, 1938 2,152,424 Wetmore 1 Mar. 28, 19392,198,051 Jordan Apr. 23, 1940 FQREIGN PATENTS N umber Country Date3,767 Germany May 15, 1878 19,220 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1893

